Nearly two decades of right wing rule in Iceland came to an ignominious end on Tuesday after the country’s president asked the left-leaning Social Democratic party to form a new government after the previous government collapsed on Monday.

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson asked Ingibjorg Gisladottir, leader of the Social Democrats and the current foreign minister, to set up the new government, which will probably involve an alliance with the Left-Green party.